Weekly E-News, Issue #104, April 5, 2005

Sponsored by:
Midway Games Commits to Happy Feet Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Midway Games Inc. signed a multi-territory publishing agreement to develop games for console, handheld, and PC platforms based on Happy Feet, a comedy/adventure due in theaters November 2006. Happy Feet is set in the land of the Emperor Penguins in the heart of Antarctica. These penguins sing, and each needs a special song to attract a soul mate. Sesame Workshop Presents New “Body” of Work Thinkwell Design & Production partnered with Sesame Workshop on Sesame Street Presents: The Body, a new exhibition that teaches young children about the human body with the help of the Muppets. The exhibition will premiere at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, AZ, May 14, 2005, and run through November 27, 2005. It then will tour science museums throughout the U.S. Shalek Joins Porchlight Entertainment Caren Shalek joined PorchLight Entertainment as senior vice president, consumer products, with the mandate to build an expanded consumer product representation business focusing on children’s and family brands. Shalek will open PorchLight’s first New York office and start building PorchLight brands such as Jay Jay The Jet Plane, Tutenstein, and Four Eyes. PorchLight also recently acquired representation of other brands including Benjamin Bear and New McDonalds Farm. Threesome Align on Pokémon Promotion Subway Restaurants; Pokémon USA; and 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., joined forces on a promotion offering four new Pokémon premiums with the purchase of Kids’ Pak meals. The promotion runs through May 8 at participating Subway locations in the U.S and Canada. In keeping with Subway’s commitment to its F.R.E.S.H. Steps program, which encourages children to eat healthy and keep active, the toy premiums promote energetic playtime activity. Included with each premium is a $3 savings coupon, redeemable with the purchase of Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys on DVD or video. The Doodlebops to Air on Disney Playhouse The Doodlebops, a new music-focused series from Cookie Jar Entertainment, joined the Playhouse Disney programming block April 11. The Doodlebops uses the power of music and rhyming to help preschoolers strengthen their language and literacy skills. The live-action series introduces three colorful, cartoon-like characters—Rooney, Moe, and Deedee—that make up a zany yet charming pop/rock group. D-Wear Apparel Program Hits the Street Dayton Wire Wheels entered into an exclusive agreement with Anthill Trading Ltd. for a line of streetwear. Under this agreement, Anthill plans an immediate rollout of Dayton’s D-Wear to various live events, auto shows, and through official Website www.daytonsgarage.com. Additional avenues include shops specializing in hot rods, lowriders, and pop culture with intended expansion into major retailers such as Under Ground Station and AutoZone. Manga Goes Mobile Tokyopop and GoComics signed an exclusive deal to launch three original properties— Princess Ai, @Large, and Shutter Box—for mobile phones. Princess Ai is the No. 1 selling manga comic that appeals to women ages 16 to 25. @Large has a following of men ages 18 to 30, while ShutterBox is favored by women ages 13 to 20. New Deals Cookin’ for Salton Inc . Salton, Inc., cooked up new deals with chefs Rachael Ray and Daniel Boulud. The Rachael Ray kitchen appliances launch this fall with a blender, hand mixer, panini maker, reversible grill/griddle, fondue maker, popcorn popper, salad spinner, microwave, and food processor. The Daniel Boulud Kitchen brand hits shelves in 2006 with a line of appliances for the home chef such as handheld blenders and stand mixers. Gibson USA Aligns with Disney Gibson USA Inc. and Disney Consumer Products are ringing in the holiday 2005 season with a line of ceramics, glassware, flatware, silicone, teakettles, giftware, and accessories featuring Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, and Disney Princess characters, among others. 4Kids Entertainment Is Cat’s Meow 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., and the Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc., announced a multi-year agreement for 4Kids to serve as the organization’s exclusive worldwide merchandise licensing agent. Under the agreement, 4Kids will represent licensed categories including cat treats, toys, food, beds, grooming products, health aids, scratching posts, carriers, and apparel. In addition, 4Kids plans to develop accessories, plush, and home décor products. In other news, 4Kids Entertainment signed an exclusive deal with Hasbro, Inc., to broadcast the new G.I. Joe Sigma Six animated series on 4Kids TV beginning September 2005. The G.I. Joe Sigma Six line of action figures, featuring an all-new 8-inch scale, debuted at Toy Fair in February. Executive Moves at United Media United Media named Melissa Menta vice president, corporate communications; April Heeren executive director, licensing; Kim Rutenberg executive director, international licensing; and Karyn Schneider executive director, sales. The company also promoted Tara Botwick to sales associate, international licensing, and Sheryl Simmons to senior approvals coordinator. MAGIC Marketplace News The February 14 to 17 edition of MAGIC Marketplace, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, certainly had quite a beat…a fashion beat, that is. Entertainers, music brands, and retro bands took center stage in the world of licensing. Look for ’70s and ’80s band logos adorning Ts, hats, and accessories, among other items. Some notable headliners include: Fashion icon Patricia Field and music mogul Damon Dash teamed up to launch Patricia Field for The House of Rocawear, a limited-edition, exclusive designer collection that will be unveiled in the fall; and since the debut of Concept One’s Concept Rock division, the company has secured rights for more than 65 bands including The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, KISS, Bruce Springsteen, and David Bowie. These retro band logos and graphics decorate headwear, bags, and CD cases. License!’s April 2005 issue brings you more on these and other licensing deals secured at February’s MAGIC Marketplace. Celebrate 25 Years of Licensing International, June 21-23, 2005, Javits Convention Center, NYC Preregister now for Licensing 2005 International to get free exhibits admission ($100 value) and to take advantage of conference registration savings. Plus, discover new and profitable properties/brands, forge merchandising and promotional partnerships, preview the latest trends in consumer retailing, network with the largest gathering of licensing professionals in the world, and attend seminars given by industry experts at Licensing University. For complete show details, including a list of exhibitors, networking events, and registration and conference information, visit www.licensingshow.com or call (800) 331-5706 / (218) 723-9130 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday). License! Advertising Opportunities This May, June, and July, you have a License! to meet the industry’s deal-brokers, contract-signers, and decision-makers. License! is where you can make your pitch to 25,000 subscribers and 20,000 attendees, including licensees, licensors, licensing agents, and retailers. And everything’s been nicely packaged to save you money before, during, and after the biggest industry show around—Licensing 2005 International. To find out more about show packages and being part of our May digital edition, visit www.licensemag.com or contact Steven Ekstract at (212) 951-6684 or [email protected] . Advertising Fact: Did you know that 100 percent of License! subscribers personally request the publication? Licensing Days at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair For the first time, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair will host two days of seminars entirely focused on the licensing business. In cooperation with License! magazine and LIMA, keynote speakers from licensing and entertainment will meet publishers April 14 and 15 to focus on merchandising, brands, and more. The seminars, “Learning about Licensing,” are organized in the framework of the TV/Film & Licensing Rights Centre of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Seminars include: Licensing by the Numbers, Publishing + Entertainment, and Beyond the Books: Strategies for Licensing & Merchandising Publishing Properties. The TV/Film & Licensing Rights Centre is an international copyright marketplace focused on children’s content. Here, TV and film licensing professionals – including producers, broadcasters, agents responsible for selling/buying rights, as well as those responsible for business development and new projects, licensors, and licensees – can access a constantly updated list of visual rights available from leading children’s publishers and literary agents exhibiting at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and add their own descriptions of intellectual properties they wish to offer to show participants. All LIMA members can register at the centre, saving 20 percent on the registration fee. For more licensing news and features, visit www.licensemag.com For more information on the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, visit www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it/tvmovie/index.htm

Sponsored by:

Midway Games Commits to Happy Feet

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Midway Games Inc. signed a multi-territory publishing agreement to develop games for console, handheld, and PC platforms based on Happy Feet, a comedy/adventure due in theaters November 2006. Happy Feet is set in the land of the Emperor Penguins in the heart of Antarctica. These penguins sing, and each needs a special song to attract a soul mate.

Sesame Workshop Presents New “Body” of Work

Thinkwell Design & Production partnered with Sesame Workshop on Sesame Street Presents: The Body, a new exhibition that teaches young children about the human body with the help of the Muppets. The exhibition will premiere at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, AZ, May 14, 2005, and run through November 27, 2005. It then will tour science museums throughout the U.S.

Shalek Joins Porchlight Entertainment

Caren Shalek joined PorchLight Entertainment as senior vice president, consumer products, with the mandate to build an expanded consumer product representation business focusing on children’s and family brands. Shalek will open PorchLight’s first New York office and start building PorchLight brands such as Jay Jay The Jet Plane, Tutenstein, and Four Eyes. PorchLight also recently acquired representation of other brands including Benjamin Bear and New McDonalds Farm.

Threesome Align on Pokémon Promotion

Subway Restaurants; Pokémon USA; and 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., joined forces on a promotion offering four new Pokémon premiums with the purchase of Kids’ Pak meals. The promotion runs through May 8 at participating Subway locations in the U.S and Canada. In keeping with Subway’s commitment to its F.R.E.S.H. Steps program, which encourages children to eat healthy and keep active, the toy premiums promote energetic playtime activity. Included with each premium is a $3 savings coupon, redeemable with the purchase of Pokémon: Destiny Deoxys on DVD or video.

The Doodlebops to Air on Disney Playhouse

The Doodlebops, a new music-focused series from Cookie Jar Entertainment, joined the Playhouse Disney programming block April 11. The Doodlebops uses the power of music and rhyming to help preschoolers strengthen their language and literacy skills. The live-action series introduces three colorful, cartoon-like characters—Rooney, Moe, and Deedee—that make up a zany yet charming pop/rock group.

D-Wear Apparel Program Hits the Street

Dayton Wire Wheels entered into an exclusive agreement with Anthill Trading Ltd. for a line of streetwear. Under this agreement, Anthill plans an immediate rollout of Dayton’s D-Wear to various live events, auto shows, and through official Website www.daytonsgarage.com. Additional avenues include shops specializing in hot rods, lowriders, and pop culture with intended expansion into major retailers such as Under Ground Station and AutoZone.

Manga Goes Mobile

Tokyopop and GoComics signed an exclusive deal to launch three original properties— Princess Ai, @Large, and Shutter Box—for mobile phones. Princess Ai is the No. 1 selling manga comic that appeals to women ages 16 to 25. @Large has a following of men ages 18 to 30, while ShutterBox is favored by women ages 13 to 20.

New Deals Cookin’ for Salton Inc

Salton, Inc., cooked up new deals with chefs Rachael Ray and Daniel Boulud. The Rachael Ray kitchen appliances launch this fall with a blender, hand mixer, panini maker, reversible grill/griddle, fondue maker, popcorn popper, salad spinner, microwave, and food processor. The Daniel Boulud Kitchen brand hits shelves in 2006 with a line of appliances for the home chef such as handheld blenders and stand mixers.

Gibson USA Aligns with Disney

Gibson USA Inc. and Disney Consumer Products are ringing in the holiday 2005 season with a line of ceramics, glassware, flatware, silicone, teakettles, giftware, and accessories featuring Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, and Disney Princess characters, among others.

4Kids Entertainment Is Cat’s Meow

4Kids Entertainment, Inc., and the Cat Fanciers’ Association, Inc., announced a multi-year agreement for 4Kids to serve as the organization’s exclusive worldwide merchandise licensing agent. Under the agreement, 4Kids will represent licensed categories including cat treats, toys, food, beds, grooming products, health aids, scratching posts, carriers, and apparel. In addition, 4Kids plans to develop accessories, plush, and home décor products.

In other news, 4Kids Entertainment signed an exclusive deal with Hasbro, Inc., to broadcast the new G.I. Joe Sigma Six animated series on 4Kids TV beginning September 2005. The G.I. Joe Sigma Six line of action figures, featuring an all-new 8-inch scale, debuted at Toy Fair in February.

Executive Moves at United Media

United Media named Melissa Menta vice president, corporate communications; April Heeren executive director, licensing; Kim Rutenberg executive director, international licensing; and Karyn Schneider executive director, sales. The company also promoted Tara Botwick to sales associate, international licensing, and Sheryl Simmons to senior approvals coordinator.

MAGIC Marketplace News

The February 14 to 17 edition of MAGIC Marketplace, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV, certainly had quite a beat…a fashion beat, that is. Entertainers, music brands, and retro bands took center stage in the world of licensing. Look for ’70s and ’80s band logos adorning Ts, hats, and accessories, among other items. Some notable headliners include: Fashion icon Patricia Field and music mogul Damon Dash teamed up to launch Patricia Field for The House of Rocawear, a limited-edition, exclusive designer collection that will be unveiled in the fall; and since the debut of Concept One’s Concept Rock division, the company has secured rights for more than 65 bands including The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, KISS, Bruce Springsteen, and David Bowie. These retro band logos and graphics decorate headwear, bags, and CD cases. License!’s April 2005 issue brings you more on these and other licensing deals secured at February’s MAGIC Marketplace.

Celebrate 25 Years of Licensing International, June 21-23, 2005, Javits Convention Center, NYC

Preregister now for Licensing 2005 International to get free exhibits admission ($100 value) and to take advantage of conference registration savings. Plus, discover new and profitable properties/brands, forge merchandising and promotional partnerships, preview the latest trends in consumer retailing, network with the largest gathering of licensing professionals in the world, and attend seminars given by industry experts at Licensing University. For complete show details, including a list of exhibitors, networking events, and registration and conference information, visit

www.licensingshow.com

or call (800) 331-5706 / (218) 723-9130 (8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday).

License! Advertising Opportunities

This May, June, and July, you have a License! to meet the industry’s deal-brokers, contract-signers, and decision-makers. License! is where you can make your pitch to 25,000 subscribers and 20,000 attendees, including licensees, licensors, licensing agents, and retailers. And everything’s been nicely packaged to save you money before, during, and after the biggest industry show around—Licensing 2005 International. To find out more about show packages and being part of our May digital edition, visit

www.licensemag.com

or contact Steven Ekstract at (212) 951-6684 or

[email protected]

Advertising Fact: Did you know that 100 percent of License! subscribers personally request the publication?

Licensing Days at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair

For the first time, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair will host two days of seminars entirely focused on the licensing business. In cooperation with License! magazine and LIMA, keynote speakers from licensing and entertainment will meet publishers April 14 and 15 to focus on merchandising, brands, and more. The seminars, “Learning about Licensing,” are organized in the framework of the TV/Film & Licensing Rights Centre of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Seminars include: Licensing by the Numbers, Publishing + Entertainment, and Beyond the Books: Strategies for Licensing & Merchandising Publishing Properties. The TV/Film & Licensing Rights Centre is an international copyright marketplace focused on children’s content. Here, TV and film licensing professionals – including producers, broadcasters, agents responsible for selling/buying rights, as well as those responsible for business development and new projects, licensors, and licensees – can access a constantly updated list of visual rights available from leading children’s publishers and literary agents exhibiting at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and add their own descriptions of intellectual properties they wish to offer to show participants. All LIMA members can register at the centre, saving 20 percent on the registration fee.

For more licensing news and features, visit

www.licensemag.com

For more information on the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, visit